And in the case of the 2012 Tesla Model S all-electric sports sedan, which Tesla says it will launch before the end of next year, skeptics abound. Pulitzer Prize wining Journalist Dan Neil said the schedule promised by Musk was "an audacious timeline that makes many in the car industry roll their eyes." And, he added, "Even people inside Tesla are leery." The implication was clear: Neil didn't believe Tesla would be able to deliver on Musk's promises.

A week later, Musk e-mailed Neil and told him--in no uncertain terms--that he was wrong. After several lively rounds of e-mail he challenged Musk to a $1 million bet on the outcome based on the Tesla Model S hitting 4 targets. If the Tesla Model S misses any of the targets, Neil wins the bet.Link to Original Source

The article states that $1 mil is being bet that Tesla delivers on time. Only $1000 is being bet that Tesla fails. Tesla is giving VERY good odds that they will make the deadline. Interesting story but framed as FUD in this writeup.